US – Page 104 – TechConnect Briefs

Harnessing the resistive-elastic behavior of novel CNT-graphene hybrid foams for practical sensing applications

Wolmarans F., Van H.H., Li S.J., Liu T., Liu T., Zhang M., Florida State University, US

Carbon nanotube (CNT) foam and aerogels hold promise in the area of strain sensors because of their resistive-elastic behavior under compressive strain. To date one of the largest obstacles in the area of CNT foam [...]

Ultrafast Integrated Humidity and Temperature Sensor Based on Carbon Nanotubes, and a Sensor Controller System

Kayastha V., Gibbons S., Giedd R., Brewer Science, Inc, US

A flexible, resistive-type, integrated humidity and temperature sensor that is made of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) will be presented. The sensor resolution is ~1% for relative humidity and <0.5°C for temperature. The sensor response and settling [...]

Frequency-Dependent Dielectric Properties Optimization of Polymer-Based-BT Nanocomposites for High Energy Density Applications

Hossain M.E., Liu S., Li J., Liu S., O’Brien S., The City College of New York of CUNY, US

Nanodielectric materials become one of the new materials to play a sole role in sustainable and clean energy production, energy transportation, energy storage, and end usage in terms of energy storage capabilities due to the [...]

Infrared Sensor Interference Isolation for Low-Cost Three-Dimensional Anemometers

Hirano J., Garmire D., University of Hawaii at Manoa, US

The further integration of wind power generation into our power grids from residential and industrial building installations increases the need to gather high spatial resolution wind data. This results in a need for low-cost three-dimensional [...]

Self-Sufficient Smart-Grid Sensor Nodes and Architecture

Carland J., Oberbeck A., Umeda M., Cumming J., Wilkey T., Fripp M., Kuh A., Garmire D., University of Hawaii at Manoa, US

Energy systems of the future will be flexible and adaptive, capable of maximizing efficiency through sensing and predicting environmental and load conditions to effectively supply the right amount of power and mitigate grid issues. We [...]

Directly Coupled(r) Direct Current Microgrids

Savage P., Daudert J., Nextek Power Systems, US

Nextek is a pioneer in direct current (DC) power networks for buildings. The Nextek Direct Coupling® power distribution platform delivers superior efficiency, flexibility, and reliability to interior electrical circuits and on-site power generation. DC Systems; [...]

Bridging the Legacy and the Smart Grid: the Power Continuity Unit

Lank R., Trivedi S., DERP Technologies, LLC, US

In light of the massive storms that have hit the East Coast and the faltering reliability of the Grid, the need to add more distributed generation (DG) and to have more micro-grids is becoming increasingly [...]

Direct catalytic liquefaction of low-volatile hydrocarbons to clean light liquid fuels

Ganguli P.S., Energy Catalysis, Inc., US

Energy Catalysis, Inc. developed a direct catalytic liquefaction process for converting low-volatile heavy hydrocarbons such as coal, petroleum residuum, vacuum gas-oil, and tar sand bitumen into clean light liquid fuels. The technology concept was based [...]

Mobility of paramagnetic nanoparticles in porous media

Wang Y., Bagaria H., Zhang X., Johnson K., Abriola LM., Pennell KD., Tufts University, US

Stable paramagnetic nanoparticles were prepared and their mobility in reservoir matrix was measured as a function of particle mass loading, rate of sulfonate fraction in coating polymer, and the presence of surfactant.

Distributed Energy Storage Network Control

Jung J., Greensmith Energy Management Systems, US

Greensmith Energy Management System’s control architecture relies on two principles to create the most resilient and rapid control system available today. First, Greensmith builds a distributed network with localized intelligence at the unit level; such [...]